Apparatus for the therapeutic use of radiant energy.



PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

v, A. RIPPERGER.

APPARATUS FOR THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF RADIANT ENERGY.

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 24. 1905.

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.. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

ALBERT RIPPERGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS 'FORI'THE THERAPEUTIC use OFiR-ADIANT ENERGY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18,1906.

Application mm a, 24,1905. satin 110362.026.

Apparatus for the TherapeuticUse of .Ra-

diant Energy, of which the following isa' specification.

protecting both patient and others peutic use of radiant energy;

My invention is an apparatus for the theraand it consists in means whereby to efiectively apply the rays at the place and over the area esired, from the undesired influence of such rays. To this end I inclose the source of'radiant energy,

whatever it may be, in an impervious cas- -ingthat is, impervious to said rayshaving an opening through which rays of only the desired extent maybe passed, and I provide meansfor 's'ucha sup ortand adjustmerit of the casing that t e rays may be readily directed to the'area where they are to operate, as fully set forth hereinafter and as proved a paratus.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure l is apers ective view of my im Fig. 2 is a viewof the clamp, ig. .,..i a.n enlarged section through the impervious shield or casing; Fig. 4, a per spective view of thecasingdetached and pro-' vided with an adjustable mirror; Figs. 5 and 6, diagrammatic views illustrating the osition of the source of energy, casing, p ysician, and patient in the use of the apparatus,

the letter F indicating the position 0 tient and P that of the physician.

In carrying out my invention I may use what is known as an X-ray tube, illustrated in the drawings; but as my ap aratus may be used in connection with 'iferent the pasources'of radiant-energy I show the X-ray tube only as an illustration of any of the va- 'rious sources which may be employed,

whether tubes or cases receiving electric currents or containing radium or otherwise.

' These I designate under the termfsource of radiant energy D. This source of radiant energy I inclose within a shield C, having one or more openings :0, through which the rays may pass to the person to be treated. As shown, the said shield is in the form of a casing closed so as to glifvent the passage of rays except in one cction, and in order that it may be light, cheap, and a bad conductor of electricity I prefer to form itof wood or other material which is a non-conductor of electricity, and I coat this on the outside with a coating of composition of rubher and oxid of lead and coat the inside, preferably, with a number of coatings of a composition of celluloid varnish and bismuth oxid, which coating in comparatively thin layers is impervious to radiant rays and is a practically perfect non-conductor.

In order to vary the dimensions of the opening, one or more of the sides of the casing may consist of a series of sections 11 p,

.fitting one within the other and capable of ,bein detached, and, as shown, both the top and ottom sides of the casing are removable and resting u on supports or ledges q, thus permitting eit er or both sides to be closed or o ened. I

. en the source of energy is an X-ray tube or other source requiring an electric current,

the tube may be supported by oneof the detachable sides (as shown, the top) of a casing provided with binder-posts e for making the proper electric connections, and this top part is removable to permit the tube to be carried into and out of the casing. Preferably the tube is adjust'ably supported within the casing, so as to be set in difierent ositions. As shown, a clamp 7c is supporte by a screw 1', which can be raised or lowered by turning a nut a thereon, the said nut resting on the top of the casing through which the screw passes. At the lower end the screw is provided with a transverse socket to receive an arm '5, extending from the clamp is, which may be set to different positions and secured by a set screw h. The clamp k'is forked to receive between its fingers one-of the necks of the tube, which is clamped in place by means'of a screw t. v

The casing C is combined with a suitable support A, permitting the said casing to be sition over a bed or stretcher and shifte and out, as desired. The support may-be of differentcharacters. As shown, it is a base a, provided with a standard I) and a cross bar or arm 11, to which the casing is secured at the outer end. Preferably the casing is connected with the bar (1 either at the top and bottom'or other sides of the casin so as to per- -mit the latter to beset u on t e arm in different positions. Thus t e end of the bar may be secured to the outer ring C or section of the top or bottom of the casing, which therefore can be turned to any desired position. Preferably a carrier B slides upon the standard I) and has a transverse socket to re ccivc the bar or arm at, which may be ad'ust ed longitudinally. The vertical and hori zontal adjustments may be ef cted by means of hand-wheels ff on shafts provided with pinions engaging racks in the standard and arm or otherwise.

To one side of the casing an arm '0 is secured by a ball-and-socket joint, and to the outer end of this arm is secured by a ball-andsocket joint a mirror 0, which can be secured in any desired position to reflect a reduced picture of the shield and tube or other source of energy therein. .In order that the tube may be watched during the operation, I have shown the casing as also cut away at one side, leaving an opening w, which is desirable in some cases, as where a long X-ray tube may project beyond the casing. This opening is soplaced that neither the operator nor the patient is exposed to the rays.

In Fig. 1 I have shown an opening at one side of the casing having guides 2 2'for receiv ing a slide 3, having an opening Zfor the passage of rays which may be used in combination with the detachable top and bottom sections or as a substitute therefor, the a paratus being provided with a plurality 0 slides having openings of different sizes.

To secure additional adjustment, the

standard I) may rotate in the socket in the base.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the source of radiant energy and surrounding impervious casing, having an opening, of a mirror and support connecting it adjustably with the casing, substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus of the character described having a support for the source of radiant energy and a surroundin shield having a coating containing bismut substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described for the therapeutic use of radiant energy, the combination of a cylindrical shield, openings formed in said cylindrical shield, a plurality of detachable sections within said cylindrical shield, openings in the top, bottom and sides of said cylindrical shield, and removably-secured covers or doors for said openings, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALBERT RIPPERGER.

Witnesses P. H. BURGER, ()scAR WIEBEL. 

